The Spurs’ offseason chatter is already pointing toward two names: Rui Hachimura and John Collins. San Antonio can only land one, and if the goal is to maximize the roster’s ceiling, Collins is the cleaner fit.
That doesn’t mean Hachimura would be a bad pickup. Far from it.
He’s one of the NBA’s best long-range shooters, having hit at least 40% of his three-point attempts in each of his last three seasons. He also owns the record for career three-point percentage.
Put that kind of shooting around the Spurs, and the floor opens up fast.
Still, Collins brings more to the table. His game is built on efficiency, rebounding and defensive versatility, which gives San Antonio a more complete piece to work with. If the Spurs want the bigger overall boost, Collins is the stronger swing.
Hachimura’s appeal is obvious in the Spurs’ offense. His shooting would create more space for drivers on the perimeter and give Victor Wembanyama cleaner looks inside. That part of the fit makes sense.
But Collins isn’t exactly empty on offense either. He’s made at least 37% of his threes over his last three seasons, so San Antonio wouldn’t be giving up all of that perimeter value by choosing him. The difference is that Collins adds more layers beyond the shot.
He’s the better rebounder, and he brings that edge on both ends of the floor. That matters, especially in the playoffs. When he’s locked in, his athleticism and mobility make him a real problem defensively because he can cover ground and contest at the rim.
Hachimura doesn’t quite match that package. He can shoot, but he doesn’t offer the same rebounding presence or defensive upside. Collins isn’t a shutdown force, but in the Spurs’ system he projects as the more impactful defender.
The versatility factor is another reason Collins stands out. San Antonio already had a flexible look last season, and Collins would widen those options even more. He can stretch the floor from the wing or corner, and he can also slide into a small-ball center role thanks to his rebounding and above-the-rim finishing.
Hachimura can hold up at both forward spots, but he doesn’t bring the same athletic pop or ability to fill multiple roles at a high level. For a Spurs team that wants more help around Wembanyama, that kind of flexibility carries real weight.
Hachimura would still be a dangerous addition if San Antonio goes that route. Shooters with his kind of touch are hard to find. But if the Spurs are looking for the move that gives them the most ways to line up and compete in the West, Collins gives them the better shot.
In Other News...
Spurs Linked To Veteran Frontcourt Move That Would Change Everything Around Wemby
San Antonios offseason watch already has a familiar shape: the Spurs are looking for ways to keep building around Victor Wembanyama, and any frontcourt addition will be judged through that lens. With cap flexibility on their side, the team has room to explore a move that could add more size, athleticism and experience to a young core that is still taking form.
One name that keeps surfacing in that conversation is John Collins, with Chicago also frequently mentioned as a potential landing spot. The appeal is obvious on paper, since Collins could offer a different kind of presence next to Wembanyama, but the fit is not without questions because of his inconsistent shooting and only average rim protection. [Read more 🡒]
Spurs Have A Sneaky Chance To Add Another Defensive Menace
The Spurs have spent plenty of time looking for ways to sharpen the edge of a defense built around Victor Wembanyama, and Jonathan Isaac fits the kind of low-risk swing that can be easy to picture from afar. Waived by Orlando and now on the market, he brings the sort of defensive reputation that has kept him on radars even as his value has been dulled by injuries and uneven availability.
The appeal is obvious on paper, because Isaac has long flashed the ability to change the tone of a game when he is healthy and engaged on that end. The hesitation is just as clear, since his offense has never come close to matching his defensive upside, which leaves any pursuit feeling speculative rather than certain for a Spurs team that is still weighing how much it wants to gamble on another high-upside, high-variance piece. [Read more 🡒]
Spurs Suddenly Have A Franchise-Changing Path To Speed Up Wembanyamas Timeline
For a franchise still trying to compress Victor Wembanyamas ascent into something more immediate, the idea of adding a proven star has a certain logic. That is why the chatter around a possible LeBron James sign-and-trade has landed with such force, especially with Bill Simmons and others floating the notion that a veteran of his stature could bring both on-court stability and the kind of locker-room gravity young teams usually have to wait years to find.
The financial side would be delicate, and the roster fit would have to make sense for both sides, but the appeal is obvious from San Antonios perspective. A lineup built around DeAaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, LeBron and Wembanyama would instantly change the temperature around the Spurs, while the Lakers would only consider such a move if they believed the return helped them elsewhere. The question now is whether this is just offseason noise or something the Spurs can seriously treat as a path worth exploring. [Read more 🡒]